Sunday, February 12, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
A is for Arithmetic
A- A is for Arithmetic.
Basic math. I'm a math geek, but in my mom years I've become a huge alternative math education advocate. I subscribe to the ideas put out by those wacky Math Circle folks and truly believe that all kids can adore math, if they see it as play and building and not as drudgery.
I work with third grade kids once a week to give them enrichment (these are the kids who are well done with the curriculum) and we are having a blast. Origami, challenges, puzzles, Suduko and just exposing them to all kinds of ideas (means, geometry, algebra). It is a math circus in there and we are free from assessments and rules. It is heaven.
Here's the connection with writing. One thing I tell the kids again and again is that not only is it OK to fail, but I hope they do fail. Perfectionism has derailed many a promising mathematician (especially girls). So I try to find things that challenge them, so that they can understand what it is to pick themselves up, rethink a problem and try again. To anyone who has tried to write something and failed (ahem, speaking for myself, I've been there a lot), that is GREAT. It is from failure we learn and can rethink, making something new, and potential wonderful (potential disastrous too - but that is life). Write on, and revel in that failure!
Basic math. I'm a math geek, but in my mom years I've become a huge alternative math education advocate. I subscribe to the ideas put out by those wacky Math Circle folks and truly believe that all kids can adore math, if they see it as play and building and not as drudgery.
I work with third grade kids once a week to give them enrichment (these are the kids who are well done with the curriculum) and we are having a blast. Origami, challenges, puzzles, Suduko and just exposing them to all kinds of ideas (means, geometry, algebra). It is a math circus in there and we are free from assessments and rules. It is heaven.
Here's the connection with writing. One thing I tell the kids again and again is that not only is it OK to fail, but I hope they do fail. Perfectionism has derailed many a promising mathematician (especially girls). So I try to find things that challenge them, so that they can understand what it is to pick themselves up, rethink a problem and try again. To anyone who has tried to write something and failed (ahem, speaking for myself, I've been there a lot), that is GREAT. It is from failure we learn and can rethink, making something new, and potential wonderful (potential disastrous too - but that is life). Write on, and revel in that failure!
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Ugh -don't ask. When it rains in your neck of the woods, it dumps 10 inches of snow on us in October (kids are in heaven though!).
Here's what seems to be a very non-writing related topic, but it eats up so much of my writing time lately that it is making itself one.
Lots of family needs happening now, which leads me to spinning about hotel rooms. We have 3 kids and almost all rates (and those cool Expedia/Cheap Room sites) are for 2 adults, 2 kids max. Most of the time we have to call for the rate for 5 people, double checking if it is OK or not. When my kids get big and burly, we won't mind getting two rooms, but for now, we are happiest in one.
I found some great sites to help though:
http://sixsuitcasetravel.com/
http://travelwithkids.about.com/od/familyresorts/qt/family_of_five.htm
For when we get some free time http://www.vacationkids.com/famfive.php
and finally, uber activism! http://minnemom.com/2010/02/06/hotel-room-large-family-fire-code/
Here's what seems to be a very non-writing related topic, but it eats up so much of my writing time lately that it is making itself one.
Lots of family needs happening now, which leads me to spinning about hotel rooms. We have 3 kids and almost all rates (and those cool Expedia/Cheap Room sites) are for 2 adults, 2 kids max. Most of the time we have to call for the rate for 5 people, double checking if it is OK or not. When my kids get big and burly, we won't mind getting two rooms, but for now, we are happiest in one.
I found some great sites to help though:
http://sixsuitcasetravel.com/
http://travelwithkids.about.com/od/familyresorts/qt/family_of_five.htm
For when we get some free time http://www.vacationkids.com/famfive.php
and finally, uber activism! http://minnemom.com/2010/02/06/hotel-room-large-family-fire-code/
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Blog-a-rama
School is back in session and its time to find that oh-so-necessary routine and start writing again. I'm giddy!!
I posted earlier about Blog overload. So much amazing information is out there for writers - agents, editors, fans, writers - all are putting up tips that can make your work shine. Once it reached the tipping point for me though, I had to stop reading them. Too. much. information.
BUT! I found that even with my hiatus, I kept reading a few blogs. Janet Reid's blog is not only high entertainment, but delivers need to know information with gentle sass and piazzaz.
Nathan Bransford comes across in his blog as a REALLY NICE GUY, who happens to know a lot about the publishing industry and wants to share. He has a huge following and even runs a great forum page for support.
Finally, Mary Kole is one agent who overwhelms me a bit, but who delivers honest, straight facts about writing and publishing. I never find her posts preachy, but instead really important and useful and go back to them a lot (even if I wear shades to hide myself - she's probably a very kind person, but she knows her stuff - and I'm just learning!!).
I posted earlier about Blog overload. So much amazing information is out there for writers - agents, editors, fans, writers - all are putting up tips that can make your work shine. Once it reached the tipping point for me though, I had to stop reading them. Too. much. information.
BUT! I found that even with my hiatus, I kept reading a few blogs. Janet Reid's blog is not only high entertainment, but delivers need to know information with gentle sass and piazzaz.
Nathan Bransford comes across in his blog as a REALLY NICE GUY, who happens to know a lot about the publishing industry and wants to share. He has a huge following and even runs a great forum page for support.
Finally, Mary Kole is one agent who overwhelms me a bit, but who delivers honest, straight facts about writing and publishing. I never find her posts preachy, but instead really important and useful and go back to them a lot (even if I wear shades to hide myself - she's probably a very kind person, but she knows her stuff - and I'm just learning!!).
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Query 101
Here's how to write a query: Don't sell me your plot or your wild child, sell me your power. Pant, growl, howl - make fingers creep to my wallet. Feed me. Let me know you are in the top level and let it roar.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Holy cow there are a lot of writing blogs and publishing advice out there. A few months ago I dove into them and slurped all the hints and tips I could find. I'm feeling pretty full right now and took a break. I just checked my Google Reader and there are weeks of advice that I have not read, and really, can't process right now.
Thankfully I just read Stephen King's On Writing and believe IT IS OK not to read them! He said conferences and workshops are a wonderful, delightful break, but not really what you need to do if you want to write (that is -you need to write!).
I love the information I got from the blogs and hope to return to devour them later, and maybe one day go to a conference so I don't feel so alone. Right now, I'll be on the fringe, and maybe do some writing!
Thankfully I just read Stephen King's On Writing and believe IT IS OK not to read them! He said conferences and workshops are a wonderful, delightful break, but not really what you need to do if you want to write (that is -you need to write!).
I love the information I got from the blogs and hope to return to devour them later, and maybe one day go to a conference so I don't feel so alone. Right now, I'll be on the fringe, and maybe do some writing!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Mini-Publishing Company
Ideas on how to motivate and inspire kids to do things we want fly like kite tails around our house. They are bold, beautiful, a bit daring and . . . often fleeting. We're all in need of improving attention, aren't we?
Well, I could go on a soapbox for hours (days, weeks my close friends will say) about the woes of organized education, with public education being the worst offender. But, I'll spare you and just point out that American kids are not WRITING like they used to. Handwriting and writing skills are minor considerations in the world of No Child Left Behind, where reading and math reign supreme.
I decided to get my kids to write more this Summer to make up for this atrocious change to schools (if you don't believe me, here's a snippet: my fifth grade son's class tossed out a monthly book project requirement to work on blogging skills and etiquette . . .). My brainstorm (here goes one of those kite tails): I started my own publishing company! I open for business every Saturday and will buy only stories that I feel like republishing (usually sending to grandma and grandpa). If they are super duper excellent, I will publish them to a wider audience and pay more. Any real profits go to the kids (a zero commission publisher!). Each kid got a notebook and are off and running.
Now the funny thing for me as a wanna-be published author is to be on the "other side." Granted there are no real pressures (like an agent or editor having to pay a mortgage), but I am looking at the stories wondering if I can find an audience. It is a very interesting perspective. I'm telling my 8 year old what I would find boring, when usually I would take his work and scream, "Print!"
If my quarter or dollar is going to his piece, I want it at least to connect with me (don't worry, I have a very generous acceptance policy once you get past the "must be related to me" requirement). Maybe one will be good enough for this blog!
Well, I could go on a soapbox for hours (days, weeks my close friends will say) about the woes of organized education, with public education being the worst offender. But, I'll spare you and just point out that American kids are not WRITING like they used to. Handwriting and writing skills are minor considerations in the world of No Child Left Behind, where reading and math reign supreme.
I decided to get my kids to write more this Summer to make up for this atrocious change to schools (if you don't believe me, here's a snippet: my fifth grade son's class tossed out a monthly book project requirement to work on blogging skills and etiquette . . .). My brainstorm (here goes one of those kite tails): I started my own publishing company! I open for business every Saturday and will buy only stories that I feel like republishing (usually sending to grandma and grandpa). If they are super duper excellent, I will publish them to a wider audience and pay more. Any real profits go to the kids (a zero commission publisher!). Each kid got a notebook and are off and running.
Now the funny thing for me as a wanna-be published author is to be on the "other side." Granted there are no real pressures (like an agent or editor having to pay a mortgage), but I am looking at the stories wondering if I can find an audience. It is a very interesting perspective. I'm telling my 8 year old what I would find boring, when usually I would take his work and scream, "Print!"
If my quarter or dollar is going to his piece, I want it at least to connect with me (don't worry, I have a very generous acceptance policy once you get past the "must be related to me" requirement). Maybe one will be good enough for this blog!
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